Ron Whitten

Television interviewer Charlie Rose is a man of almost limitless interests. On a recent afternoon in his mid-Manhattan studio, Rose segued easily from the Middle East with former Secretary of State Madeline Albright to Wall Street with a New York Times reporter to golf courses with Golf Digest Architecture Editor Ron Whitten. Their discussion revealed a shared passion for the topic, born of a love for the game, its personalities and its natural beauty. In this excerpt from that conversation, they discuss Golf Digest's rankings, the differences between No. 1 Pine Valley and No. 2 Augusta National, and more. • Ranking: America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses • Ranking: America's 100 Greatest Public Courses